Motor control switch



April 11, 1944. c. J. WERNER ,346,341

MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH Filed April 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 40 m9 F 7 4o K \QWWJ I In YEN 1 mg Cm. w/v J.

April 1944. c. J. WERNER 2,346,341

MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH Filed April 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C344 w/-/ J Wee/v52 M5 flrroR gys Patented Apr. 11, 19 4 UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE Q Q I v Moron swrrcn eral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1942, Serial No. 438,931

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and moreparticularly to switches adapted to control the operationof electric motors.

the switch and the manual means adapted to be actuated to move a portionof the switch for starting purposes.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing, how- It is among the objects of the present invention 5 ever, the manual means per-able to affect stopto provide a switch adapted automatically to ping of the motor. control an electric motor in accordance with its Fig. 6 is a perspective view of both manually speed of operation so that when the speed of operable means and their retaining element. the motor falls'below a predetermined value said Fig. 7 is a view somewhat like Fig. 1 taken switch will automatically break the motor cir- 10 however, from the opposite side thereof and; cuits and stop motor operation thereby protecting Fig. 8 is a. wiring diagram illustrating the varithe' motor against damage during stalling or ous circuits and c nnectlons of the electric mooverloadlng 'or any other abnormal conditions tor and switch. to which it may besubjected and which would The switch illustrated in the present applicareduce its speed below the said predetermined tion is the one illustrated, described and claimed value. t in the U. S. Letters Patent No; 2,182,977, filed A further object of the present invention is to October 23, 1936, and issued to me on December provide an automatic motor control switch 12, 1939. To adapt it for use with the manually adapted to beactuated manually to complete the operable control means as illustrated, described necessary circuits for motorfst'arting purposes and claimed .in the present application it was and likewise to break the motor circuits at will found necessary to alter only a portion of one of for stopping motor operation; the elements of the present switch as will here- More particularly it is among the objects of inafter be described. 9 the present inventionto provide an existing speed Referring to the drawings the numeral 20 desresponsive switch with manually operable means ignates the end frame of the electric motor adapted to cooperate with certain parts of the equipped with the present invention. This end switch to close and open circuits for motor startframe 20 has a portion 2i in which a bearing ing and stopping purposes respectively, without (not shown) is provided for supporting one end necessitating expensive'an'd complicated altera of the rotating shaft 22 of themotor. 'I'heileld tions in the existing switch structure to effect its frame, rotor and opposite end frame of this mocooperation with said manually operable means. tor are not illustrated in the present drawings The application of said manually operable motor inasmuch as they are of standard construction starting meansalso renders said automatic switch and form no part necessary to be illustrated to a protective device, for the motor, inasmuch as describe the present invention. a reduction in the speed of the motor below a The motor shaft 22 is provided with a transpredetermined minimum, due to abnormal operaverse opening 21 thru its axes to provide a beartion of the motor as when stalling or overloaded ing surface for a rod 28 of the centrifugal device will cause the switch to open the motor circuit 29. This centrifugal device comprises the rod to stop motor operation which cannot again be 28 which is free to slide in the opening 21, a lamieil'ected without the operation of said manually 40 mat Weight 3| and a washer 32 of hard felt or operable means. similar fibrous material being secured at one end Further objects and advantages of the present of said rod 28. On the other end of the rod there invention will be apparent fromthe following deis provided a head portion in the form of an adscription. r fer ein had to t pany- Justable nut 34. A'spring 33 surrounds the shaft ing drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of 28 and is interposed between the, adjustable nut the present invention is clearly shown. 34 and the shaft 22. Normally spring 33 will Inthe drawingsi hold the centrifugal device 29 in the position Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the as shown in Fig. 2 in which the innermost weight end housing of anelectric'motor' with the switch member of the group 3| rides upon-the shaft 22. of the present invention applied thereto. However, when the shaft 22 of the electric motor Fig.2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, starts to rotate, and as this rotation increases, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l. the centrifugal device and particularly its group Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2. taken, howof weight members 3|, will be urged outwardly ever, along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. due to centrifugal force overcoming the effect of Fig. 4 is a fragmentary part sectional view of the spring 33 to hold said device in thenormal treme throwout the end housing.

. supported by the nated by the numerals 45 and 46. The other pair is connected to a strap 41a The deviceeventually reaches its exposition, as shown in Fig. 3, when the motor reaches a predetermined speed. From this it may be seen that the movement of the weightmembers 8|v and the fibrous washer 82 while rotating with shaft22 is in a path at right position.

. angles to the axis of shaft 22.

The end housing 28 also provides a switch housing- 46. A plate 4|, of insulating material, is secured in the end housing 28 and adjacent the switch housing 48 thereof by screws 42 which are threadedly received in lugs 43 provided by This insulating plate 4| supports a plurality'of stationary contacts which may be referred to hereinafter as pairs of stationary contacts. The two contacts of one pair insulating plate 4| are desi of stationary contacts comprises contacts 41 and 48. As shown in Fig. '1, contact 45 is connected with a terminal 450 by a strap 451). Contact 41 which provides termi- 46 and 48 are connected together by a strap 461: this strap having a portion extending thru an opening 48 in the insulatlng plate 4| and providing a terminal. As shown in Fig. 8 the strap 460, which connects stationary contacts 46 and 48 has a wire 58 connected to strap 46a, said wire also being connected to one end of the main or running windnal 41b. Contacts ing of the electric motor 68. The other end of the running winding 5| is connected to the -motor terminal 52. Stationary contact 45 and its terminal 45a is connected by a wire 58 with the motor terminal 54. The contact 41 with its terminal 41b is connected by a wire 55 with one end of the phase or starting winding 56 of the motor 68, the other end of said starting winding being connected to the motor terminal 52. These motor terminals 52 and 54 may be connected with the respective sides of the power line as shown.

As has been mentioned in the objects of the present invention the switch in this instance is of the centrifugal type operation of the electric motor in accordance with and response to the speed of motor operation. Cooperating with the stationary contacts 45, 46, 41 and 48 is a bridging member 62, comprising a plate having a centrally apertured and cup-shaped body portion 63 and a neck portion 64 extending therefrom as clearly shown in the Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. When in position in the moto the shaft 22 extends thru the central opening I65 provided in the body portion 63 of the bridging member 62. The bridging member is movably held in position by the two headed studs 65 and 66. The reduced diameter threaded end of each stud is received by the end housing 26, the shoulders on said studs engaging the insulating plate 4| and thus said studs assist screws 42 in maintaining the insulating plate in position on the end housing 28. ,An insulating washer 61 is placed on the neck portion 64 of the bridging member 62 and around the stud 65, one end of a spring 68 resting upon said insulating washer 61 the other end abutting against the inner surfaceof the head of stud 65. The other stud 66 extends thru an opening in the neck portion 64 of the bridging member 62, an insulating washer 69 heingprovided on said neck portion surrounding the stud 66. Four contacts 15, 16, 11 and 18 are provided on the bridging member, being so positioned thereon that when said member is moved into one 1 adapted to control the or the other of its positions they may engage with their respective stationary contacts 45,46, 41 and 48 supported on the insulating plate 4|. When the motor is inoperative the bridging member 62 is'held so that its contacts 11 and 18 engage stationary contacts 41 and 48 respectively as shown in Figs. 2 and motor reaching a predetermined speed, the centrifugal device moves the bridging member so that its contacts 15 and 16 engage contacts 45 and 46 respectively the contacts 11 and 18 being moved from engagement with their respective contacts 41 and 48.

One difference in the bridging member of the present invention over that of the bridging member, shown in my issued Patent No. 2,182,977 previously referred to, is the provision of a flexible contact carrying linger on the present bridging member. This contact carrying finger is designated by the numeral 86 one end thereof being secured in a suitable manner to the neck portion 64 of the bridging member 62, said flexible finger supporting the Contact 15 which is adapted to cooperate with the stationary contact 45 on the insulating plate 4|.

As has been mentioned heretofore, when the motor is not operating, spring 33 of the centrifugal device will maintain the innermost weight member of the group of weights 3| in riding engagement with the surface of the motor shaft 22 as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the felt or fibrous washer 82 of this centrifugal device riding upon the higher surface 63a of the disc shaped portion of the bridging member 62 holds said memberso that its contacts 11 and, 18 engage their respective stationary contacts 41 and 48. Under these circumstances contacts 11 and 18 act as fulcrums for the bridging member 82 so that the contacts 15 and 16 on said bridging member are held out of engagement with their respective stationary contacts 45 and 46. When, however, the motor starts to operate and as its speed of operation increases the effect of centrifugal force on the group of weights 4| will move the centrifugal device from the position as shown in Fig. 2 toward the position as shown in Fig. 3, thereby moving the fibrous washer 32 of the centrifugal device away from and out of contact with the higher surface 63a of the bridging member permitting spring 68 to become effective to move the said bridging member so that its contacts 15 and 16 will engage their respective stationary contacts 45 and 46 and while acting as fulcrum points, will cause the contacts 11 and 16 of the bridging member to be lifted out of engagement with their respective stationary contacts 41 and 48. When the centrifugal device is in this position the motor will be operating at or above a predetermined speed. While the centrifugal device is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the motor will be at rest or at least operating below the said predetermined speed.

It has been stated that it is among the objects of the present invention to provide an existing centrifugal switch with manually operable members adapted to move portions of the switch to either close or open certain necessary motor circuits to establish or stop motor operation, These manually operable members are shown in the form of two spring-loaded push buttons I60 and |6 respectively. The push button Hill is the one adapted to be operated for purposes of starting the motor, while the push button |6| is adapted to be operated for the purpose of stopping motor operation.

8. In response to the so that its contact 16 is As shown in Fig. 6 both these push buttons I and IOI are identically fashioned. Their shank portions are rectangular in cross section eachbeing provided with a head member. The lower portion of one side of each shank is cut away as at I02 to form a camming surface I03. The adjoining edge surface of the push button shank is provided with a camming surface I04 the upper end of which terminates in a notch I05. The shank of the push button has a transverse slot I06 for receiving outwardly extending arms I01 of a retainer plate I06. A spring I09 is interposed between the head portion of each push button and the bottom of a recess in the housing 20 which receives the push button. These yieldably urge said push buttons into their upper or inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1. The retaining plate I08 is secured against the insulating disc H by the shoulder of the guide stud 65. The arms I01 of said retaining plate I08 are narrower than the slots in the push buttons into which said arms extend, so that the said push buttons may be depressed and move relatively to said arms which are provided to limit their outward movement by the springs I09.

Fig. 2 shows the push button I 00 in normal position in its recess of the end housing 20. When in this normal position the sloping cam surface I03 of said push button is engaged by the rounded end 80a of the resilient finger 80 previously described as attached to the bridging member 62 and carrying contact 15. The Fig. 4 illustrates the same push button I 00 in its depressed or operated position in which the rounded end 80a of the flexible finger 60 has travelled upwardly along the sloping cam surface I03 oi said push button thereby being moved inwardly toward the insulating plate 4| and consequently causing the contact 15 on said flexible finger to engage its respective stationary contact 45 on the insulating plate 4l. The flexibility of the finger 80 is such that operation of the push button I00 into the position as shown in Fig. 4 will merely flex said finger but will have no moving effect upon any other portion of the bridging member.

The Fig. 3 illustrates the push button normal position. Here of the neck IOI in its the curved hook end 54a portion 64 of the bridging member 62 is riding upon the sloping cam surface I04 of the push button. When the push button IN is moved toward its depressed position, as shown in the Fig. 5, the hook end 64a, riding upwardly on the sloping surface I04 of the shank of push button IOI will tiltingly lift the bridging member moved out of engagement with its cooperating stationary contact 46. When the push button I M is fully depressed its notch I is engaged by the hook end 64a of the bridging member so that said pushbutton is retained in operated position and thus continued pressure need not be exerted. Tiltingly lifting of the bridging member to disengage contact 16 from fixed cooperating contact 46 will not appreciably move any other portion of the bridging member and therefore its contacts 15, 11 and 18 will maintain their engagement with the respective stationary contacts 45, 41 and 46. The separ'atron of contacts 16 and 46 as will be described fully hereinafter. breaks the connection between the one side of the power line and the electric motor, thus causing the motor to stop. As soon as its speed is reduced predeterminately, the centrifugal device as it moves from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2, 7o

3 due to such reduction in motor speed, will cause the bridging member to be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 3, to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby tilting said member with its contacts I8 and 11 acting as fulcrums and consequently lifting the hook end 640. of the bridging member from the notch I05. As soon as this happens, the push button IOI is released and its spring I09 will again return it to normal inoperated position.

The complete operation of the switch will now be described, reference being had in particular to the Fig. 8. When the motor is at rest, the switch, as has been described, will be in the position as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. In this position contacts 11, 18 of the bridging member are in engagement with their respective contacts 41 and 46. Under these circumstances the phase or starting winding of the motor 56 is in parallel connection with the running winding 5| thru the following circuit; wire 55, contact 41, via the terminal 41b, stationary contact 11, bridging member 62 to contact 18, contact 46, thru its strap 46a, wire 50 to the running winding 5| of the motor. Both these field windings 5| and 56 are connected with a common terminal 52 of the motor to which one side of the power line may be connected. The other side of the power line is connected to the motor terminal 54 which in turn is connected with the stationary contact 45 thru wire 53, leading to terminal 45a of contact 45. This contact engaged by the bridging'contact 15, mounted upon or carried by the flexible finger 60 of the bridging member, due to the fact that the bridging member is being held in its normal position by the centrifugal element 29 when the motor is not operating. Neither is the stationary contact 46 engaged by its cooperating bridging member contact 16 under these circumstances. Now, when it is desired to operate the motor the push button I00 is depressed, thereby causing the flexible finger 60 to be biased and brings its contact 15 into engagement with the stationary contact 45, the normal position of the bridging member however not being altered by such movement of its flexible finger. Engagement of contact 15 with contact 45 completes the following motor circuits. From the power line connected with the motor terminal 54 thru wire 53 the terminal 45a of stationary contact 45 to the engaging contact 15 on the flexible finger thru said flexible finger to the main body portion 64a of the bridging member thence thru contact 16 to stationary contact 48, thru the arm 46a, wire 50, running winding SI of the motor to the terminal 52 connected to the opposite side of the power line. Another motor circuit is completed from the convtact 11 on the bridging member to contact 41 engaged thereby, to terminal 41b then thru wire 55 to the phase or starting winding 56 which is the motor will operate. the centrifugal device 29 will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, during which time the bridging member 45, however, is not normally contact 55. These contacts 75 and it now acting as iulcrums, bridging member 62 under the effect of spring 68 will move its contacts i1 and i8 out of engagement with their respective stationary contacts 41 and 48 thereby completely breaking the circuit connection with the phase or starting winding 56. However, the circuit connection to the running winding is still maintained for the wire bi), leading from said running winding, is connected with the terminal Qfia which is common to both stationary terminals 66 and t8. Thus, when in this position, the bridging member will complete the following circuit. From the power line connected to the motor terminal st, to terminal 85a of contact 65, thence thru the contact E5 on spring finger 80, bridging member and its contact '56 to the contact 56 thru the strap 56a and wire 5t connected thereto thru the running winding 5! of the motor to the motor terminal 52 connected to the opposite side of the power line.

When it is desired to stop motor operation, the user depremes the button it! until it engages the hook end 6 in of the bridging member and is locked in this position by said hook member entering the notch But in said push button ml.

As has been stated heretofore depression of button ilii will lift the bridging member with a tilting effect causing a separation of its contact it from the cooperating stationary contact 66. The engagement of contact it with its contact ilt is not affected. Now the circuit from the power line at terminal 50 thru the wire 53, contact 65 to contact '15 and finger Bil is broken for contact it no longer engages contact 56, hence the circuit to the motor proper is completely broken and the motor consequently rendered inoperative. As its speed decreases the control device as will move from the position as shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, and in so moving said contrifugal device thru its fibrous washer 32 will move the bridging member from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2. As a consequence the hook and Ma. of the bridging member is withdrawn from notch its in push button it! and the push button is released and permitted to be returned to normal position by its spring its. The bridging contacts 15 and it are moved from engagement with their respective stationmy contacts 65 and 6B and contacts iii and 38 on the insulating plate Eli are again engaged by their bridging contacts W and it.

Thus when the speed of the motor is reduced so as to cause the centrifugal member 29 of the switch to actuate the bridging member to disengage contacts 15 and it from their cooperating contacts 55 and 46 respectively and to cause contacts H and it to engage their cooperating stationary contacts ill and 18 respectively, the motor cannot again be made operative without the manual actuation of the push button I00. Consequently any condition such as stalling or overload which would tend to damage the motor and which results in a decrease in its speed of operation is immediately eliminated by the complete v disconnection of the motor from the power circuit. To again reestablish motor operation requires manual operation of the switch.

From the aforegoing it may be seen that very little change in the construction of the existing switch as shown in my Patent No. 2,182,977 previously referred to was made. With the addition of two manually operable push buttons applicant has provided a new, simple and economical switch adapted automatically to contol motor assassin.

operation in accordance with the speed of the motor and having provisions adapted to be operated manually to actuate a portion oi the corn triiugal switch to close circuits for eflecting motor starting and also to operate another portion 0! the centrifugal switch to open the circuits to stop motor operation, also an automatic protective device which avoids all damage to the motor caused by its stalling, overload or reduction in speed due to any abnormal operation.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form. it is to be understoodthat other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope or the which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A control device for an electric motor having starting and running windings adapted to be connected with a source of electric power comprising in combination, a centrifugal switch comprising a contactor having a rigid portion and a flexible portion and also stationary contacts normally disengaged to disconnect both of said windings from the source of power; speed responsive means adapted at a predetermined motor speed to actuate the contactor to complete only the circuit through the running winding by connecting it with said source of power; manually operable means for actuating the flexible portion of the centrifugal switch contactor to connect both the starting and the running windings to the source of power for motor starting purposes; and a second manually operable means for actuating the rigid portion of the contactor to open all circuit connections of the motor with the power source to stop motor operation.

2. In combination with a centrifugal switch having a member adapted to be actuated to disconnect both the starting and the running windings of an electric motor from a source of electric power when thespeed of the motor falls below a predetermined value and to connect only the running winding to said power source when the motor rotates at said predetermined speed; of a manually operable member adapted while operated to engage and actuate only a portion of said switch member to connect both the starting and running windings to the source of power for motor starting p r oses; and a second manually operable member adapted when actuated to move the complete member of the switch to disconnect the source of power from the motor to stop motor operation.

3. In combination with a centrifugal switch having a movable member normally disconnecting both the starting and the running windings of an electric motor from a power line but adapt= ed, at a predetermined speed of motor rotation to connect only the running winding to said power line; of a push button, while manually op erated, adapted to flex a portion of the movable member of the switch out of normal position to connect the power line with both the starting and running windings for motor starting purposes; and a second push button adapted, when manually operated, to move the entire movable member of the switch to disconnect the power line from the motor winding to stop motor operation.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 in which, however, means are provided to engage and retain the second push button in its operated, circuit breaking position, until released by the actuation of the switch to normal position by the silient portion two spring loaded members, one of which,

operation.

6. In combination provided 7. In combination with a centrifugal switch having a movable member normally disconnecting both the starting and the running windings to connect er line; a

53 its notched camming surface engaging and mov ing the rigid hook member of the switch ember to move said member and break the oom1ection of the said one power line with the motor to stop motor operation, the notch in said camming surface holding th push button in its operated position until the switch member is moved to normal position by a reduction in motor speed at which time said push button is released.

8. In a motor control switch the combination with a plurality of stationary contacts; a

tor operation; a flexible finger on said movable bridging member; manually operable means for flexing the finger to engage the said third of the stationary contacts to connect it to th said two contacts normally engaged by the bridging member; a rigid hook portion on said bridging member; and a second manually operable means for engaging said hook and moving the bridging member partially out 01' its operated position and disengage it from the fourth of said stationary contacts whereby the connection between the third and fourth of said contacts and the said two stationary contacts is completely broken.

9. A control switch for a motor having start ing and running windings, comprising a shiftportions; gaged by the bridging member, said contacts being respectively connected to the starting and running windings or the motor; two stationary contacts adapted to be engaged by the bridging member when moved from normal to operated position; one or these stationary contacts being connected to the one of the first mentioned stationary contacts connected to the running winding of the motor. the other contact being adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy; speed responsive means for actuating the bridging member between normal and operated positions; manually operated means for actuating the flexible portion of said bridging member to engage the stationary contact connected to the source oi. electrical energy while the bridging member is in normal position for motor starting; and a second manually operable means adapted to be actuated bodily to move the bridging member to disengage the stationary contact connected to the running winding while the said of the speed of the motor.

GAIJJIN J. WeEthEFz. 

